WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1990
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PAYMENT OF OLD AGE ALLOWANCE EXPLAINED
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OVER THE HONG HEALTH AND TODAY
BEEN ABSENT FROM THE SECRETARY FOR
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WAS WITHHELD FROM 5,400 RECIPIENTS PAST FIVE YEARS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY HAD KONG FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS IN A YEAR, WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE (WEDNESDAY).
YIU CHUNG, MRS WONG CASES WAS 210 DAYS.
TAM REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SAID THE AVERAGE PERIOD OF ABSENCE IN THESE
MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WAS A NON-CONTRIBUTORY WELFARE PAYMENT FUNDED BY GENERAL REVENUE, AND WAS LOCAL RESIDENTS TO TAKE INTENDED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO ENCOURAGE
WELL AS TO CARE OF THEIR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY AS MEET EXTRA EXPENSES ARISING FROM OLD AGE.
"WHILE IT IS ASSUMED THAT RECIPIENTS WILL BE RESIDING IN HONG KONG IF THEY ARE TO RECEIVE THE ALLOWANCE, AT PRESENT THEY ARE PERMITTED TO BE ABSENT FOR UP TO 90 DAYS A YEAR IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR NEED TO GO ANYWHERE OVERSEAS FOR SHORT VISITS, BE THESE FOR MEDICAL OR SOCIAL REASONS, SHE SAID.
"I
ABSENT FROM AT PRESENT, WHEN INTENDING TO BE OVER 90 DAYS TO GO TO CHINA OR, INDEED, ELSEWHERE FOR THE RECIPIENT MIGHT SEEK PERMISSION
EXTEND HIS CONTINUED PAYMENT OF THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE.
ΤΟ
HONG KONG FOR MEDICAL REASONS, ELIGIBILITY
FOR
"IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MERITS OF THE CASE, SUCH PERMISSION MAY BE GIVEN FOR PERIODS OF TIME AS REQUIRED IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE," SHE SAID.
USA ENCOURAGED TO TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH
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OF
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGING THE UNITED STATES AMERICA TO TAKE A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO THE MIGRATION OF PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
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IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MARTIN BARROW, MR ASPREY SAID: FOR ITS PART, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT RECOGNISE THE NEED TO TACKLE THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE MIGRATION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
ON MAY 17 THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED THE SETTING UP OF A SPECIAL SCHEME TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGO'S) IN THOSE PARTS OF NORTHERN VIETNAM FROM WHICH BOAT PEOPLE HAD PREDOMINANTLY COME IN RECENT YEARS, HE SAID.
/"UNDER THE
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